Today, Yesterday, Tomorrow (오늘, 어제, 내일)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use {오늘|今日} (today), {어제|昨日} (yesterday), and {내일|來日} (tomorrow) at the start of your sentence to anchor your time.
- Place time words at the very beginning of the sentence: '오늘 공부해요' (I study today).
- These words do not need particles like '에' (at/in) because they are relative time nouns.
- Combine them with verb tenses to change meaning: '어제 먹었어요' (I ate yesterday).
Overview
Understanding how to correctly use 오늘 (o-neul, today), 어제 (eo-je, yesterday), and 내일 (nae-il, tomorrow) is fundamental to expressing time in Korean. These three words are not merely vocabulary; they represent a core grammatical concept crucial for any beginner. They act as absolute time adverbial nouns, a distinct category that inherently communicates the time an action occurs without needing additional particles.
A key grammatical feature differentiates these words: they never combine with the time particle 에 (-e). This is a common pitfall for learners, as 에 typically marks specific times or days. Instead, 오늘, 어제, and 내일 directly modify the verb, indicating when an action happened or will happen.
Their inherent temporal meaning makes the 에 particle redundant and ungrammatical.
Crucially, the choice among 오늘, 어제, and 내일 dictates the required verb tense. Using 어제 mandates a past tense verb, 내일 requires a future tense verb, and 오늘 can precede either a present or future tense verb, depending on the action's timing. This strict agreement ensures logical consistency and clear communication.
Mastering these words is essential for natural and accurate Korean expression, forming the bedrock for discussing schedules, past events, and future plans.
How This Grammar Works
오늘 (o-neul), 어제 (eo-je), and 내일 (nae-il) stems from their function as absolute time adverbial nouns. This classification means they inherently contain the meaning of "on this day" or "at this time," functioning as complete temporal markers by themselves. You can think of them as self-sufficient units that directly modify the verb, specifying its timing.월요일 (wol-yo-il, Monday) or 오후 세 시 (o-hu se si, 3 PM), which do require the particle 에 to accurately convey "on Monday" or "at 3 PM."오늘, 어제, and 내일 refer to a comprehensive temporal unit—the entire 24-hour day. The particle 에 serves to pinpoint a specific moment or a specific day that is not inherently represented as a whole day. Since 오늘, 어제, and 내일 already signify the complete day, attaching 에 becomes grammatically superfluous.오늘에 (o-neul-e) are incorrect; they sound as awkward to a native Korean speaker as "on today" does in English.어제(Yesterday) + Past Tense: Any action or state described using어제must be conjugated into the past tense. This is because어제explicitly refers to a day that has already concluded.어제 친구를 만났어요.(Eo-je chin-gu-reul man-nass-eo-yo.) - I met a friend yesterday. (해요체)어제 비가 많이 왔다.(Eo-je bi-ga man-i wat-da.) - It rained a lot yesterday. (해체)
내일(Tomorrow) + Future Tense: Conversely,내일invariably requires a future tense verb ending. You are describing an event or action scheduled for the forthcoming day.내일 도서관에 갈 거예요.(Nae-il do-seo-gwan-e gal geo-ye-yo.) - I will go to the library tomorrow. (해요체)내일 숙제할게.(Nae-il suk-je-hal-ge.) - I'll do homework tomorrow. (해체)
오늘(Today) + Present or Future Tense:오늘offers more flexibility regarding verb tense.- Use present tense if the action is currently ongoing, a general routine for today, or a scheduled event happening within the current day.
오늘 한국어를 공부해요.(O-neul han-guk-eo-reul gong-bu-hae-yo.) - I am studying Korean today. (해요체- implies ongoing or general action today)오늘 회사에 가.(O-neul hoe-sa-e ga.) - I'm going to work today. (해체)- Use future tense if the action is planned or expected to occur later within the current day.
오늘 저녁에 영화를 볼 거예요.(O-neul jeo-nyeok-e yeong-hwa-reul bol geo-ye-yo.) - I will watch a movie this evening. (해요체- planned action for later today)오늘 밤 뭐 먹을까?(O-neul bam mwo meog-eul-kka?) - What shall we eat tonight? (해체)
해요체, 해체, 합니다체) does not impact 오늘, 어제, or 내일 themselves. These temporal nouns remain constant. Only the verb ending changes to reflect the desired formality towards your interlocutor.Formation Pattern
오늘, 어제, and 내일 becomes systematic once you grasp their core principles. The pattern involves selecting the appropriate time word, positioning it within your sentence, and then ensuring perfect verb tense alignment.
오늘 | (저는) | 책을 | 읽어요 (present/future) |
어제 | (친구가) | 여기에 | 왔어요 (past) |
내일 | (우리는) | 제주도에 | 갈 거예요 (future) |
오늘, 어제, or 내일 is solely determined by when the action or event occurred, is occurring, or will occur relative to the present day.
어제 (eo-je, yesterday).
오늘 (o-neul, today).
내일 (nae-il, tomorrow).
내일 저는 서울에 갈 거예요. (Nae-il jeo-neun Seoul-e gal geo-ye-yo.) - Tomorrow, I will go to Seoul.
저는 내일 서울에 갈 거예요. (Jeo-neun nae-il Seoul-e gal geo-ye-yo.) - I will go to Seoul tomorrow.
에 (-e): This is arguably the most vital rule for A1 learners. As previously established, 오늘, 어제, and 내일 function as absolute temporal adverbs. They inherently contain the meaning of "on this day" or "at this time." Adding the particle 에, which typically specifies a point in time (e.g., 3시에 - at 3 o'clock, 월요일에 - on Monday), is redundant and grammatically incorrect when directly appended to these words. This is a very common beginner error that instantly reveals non-native usage.
어제에 친구를 만났어요. (Eo-je-e chin-gu-reul man-nass-eo-yo.)
어제 친구를 만났어요. (Eo-je chin-gu-reul man-nass-eo-yo.) - I met a friend yesterday.
에 is reserved for specific time points or specific days that do not inherently function as absolute temporal adverbs.
어제, always use a past tense verb ending.
어제 드라마를 봤어요. (Eo-je deu-ra-ma-reul bwass-eo-yo.) - I watched a drama yesterday. (해요체)
어제 도서관에서 공부했습니다. (Eo-je do-seo-gwan-e-seo gong-bu-haess-seup-ni-da.) - I studied at the library yesterday. (합니다체)
내일, always use a future tense verb ending.
내일 한국어를 가르칠 거예요. (Nae-il han-guk-eo-reul ga-reu-chil geo-ye-yo.) - I will teach Korean tomorrow. (해요체)
내일 회사에 가겠습니다. (Nae-il hoe-sa-e ga-gess-seup-ni-da.) - I will go to work tomorrow. (합니다체)
오늘, use a present tense verb ending for current or general actions, or a future tense verb ending for planned actions later in the day.
오늘 일찍 일어나요. (O-neul il-jjik i-reo-na-yo.) - I wake up early today. (해요체)
오늘 저녁에 운동할 거예요. (O-neul jeo-nyeok-e un-dong-hal geo-ye-yo.) - I will exercise this evening. (해요체)
은/는 (eun/neun, topic marker) and 도 (do, also/too). Even when these particles are appended, the "no-에" rule still applies to the core 오늘, 어제, or 내일 component.
은/는 (Topic Marker): Attaching 은/는 emphasizes the specific day as the sentence's topic. This often implies a contrast or a particular focus on that day compared to others.
오늘은 날씨가 정말 좋아요. (O-neul-eun nal-ssi-ga jeong-mal joh-a-yo.) - As for today, the weather is really good.
어제는 바빴지만, 오늘은 한가해요. (Eo-je-neun ba-ppass-ji-man, o-neul-eun han-ga-hae-yo.) - Yesterday I was busy, but today I am free.
도 (Also/Too): When 도 is appended, it signifies that something is happening "on this day also" or "even on this day."
오늘도 학교에 가요. (O-neul-do hak-gyo-e ga-yo.) - I am going to school today too. (Implies a routine or repetition.)
내일도 회의가 있어요. (Nae-il-do hoe-ui-ga iss-eo-yo.) - There's a meeting tomorrow too.
When To Use It
오늘, 어제, and 내일 indispensable in virtually all daily Korean communication involving temporal references. Their application ranges from casual conversation to more formal interactions. Knowing precisely when and how to deploy them effectively is crucial for natural and accurate expression.- State the exact day of an action or event: This is their primary function. Whether you are narrating a past occurrence, describing a present activity, or outlining future plans, these three words provide the essential chronological anchor.
어제 친구랑 저녁을 먹었어요.(Eo-je chin-gu-rang jeo-nyeog-eul meog-eoss-eo-yo.) - I ate dinner with a friend yesterday.오늘 오후에 수업이 있어요.(O-neul o-hu-e su-eob-i iss-eo-yo.) - I have class this afternoon.내일 여행 갈 거예요.(Nae-il yeo-haeng gal geo-ye-yo.) - I will go on a trip tomorrow.
- Make or discuss plans and appointments: These words are central to scheduling. When arranging to meet someone, inquiring about someone's availability, or confirming an event, they are your go-to terms.
우리 내일 몇 시에 만날까요?(U-ri nae-il myeot si-e man-nal-kka-yo?) - What time shall we meet tomorrow?오늘 시간 괜찮으세요?(O-neul si-gan gwaen-chanh-eu-se-yo?) - Are you free today? (Polite)어제 중요한 약속이 있었습니다.(Eo-je jung-yo-han yak-sog-i iss-eoss-seup-ni-da.) - I had an important appointment yesterday. (Formal)
- Emphasize or contrast a specific day: By attaching the topic marker
은/는(-eun/neun), you can highlight오늘,어제, or내일as the primary focus of your statement. This often implies a comparison or distinction from other days, drawing attention to the unique nature of a particular day's event or condition. 오늘은 정말 더워요.(O-neul-eun jeong-mal deo-wo-yo.) - Today is really hot. (Implies it might not have been hot on other days.)어제는 할 일이 많았어요.(Eo-je-neun hal il-i manh-ass-eo-yo.) - Yesterday, I had a lot to do. (Focusing on yesterday's workload.)
- Combine with other temporal nouns for specific parts of the day: You can append specific parts of the day, such as
아침(a-chim, morning),점심(jeom-sim, lunchtime),저녁(jeo-nyeok, evening), or밤(bam, night), directly after오늘,어제, and내일. This specifies a particular time frame within that day. - Crucially, the "no-
에" rule still applies to these combined expressions. The entire compound (오늘 아침,어제 밤,내일 저녁) functions as a single absolute time adverbial, thus generally rejecting에. 오늘 아침(o-neul a-chim) - this morning오늘 아침 일찍 일어났어요.(O-neul a-chim il-jjik i-reo-nass-eo-yo.) - I woke up early this morning.어제 밤(eo-je bam) - last night어제 밤 잠을 못 잤어요.(Eo-je bam jam-eul mot jass-eo-yo.) - I couldn't sleep last night.내일 저녁(nae-il jeo-nyeok) - tomorrow evening내일 저녁 만날까요?(Nae-il jeo-nyeok man-nal-kka-yo?) - Shall we meet tomorrow evening?
오늘, 어제, 내일 can sometimes be implicitly understood if the context is unambiguous. For example, if you ask 영화 볼까? (yeong-hwa bol-kka?, Shall we watch a movie?) in the evening, 오늘 저녁 (tonight) is often implied without explicit mention. However, for clarity, especially when differentiating between days, explicit use is always preferred.Common Mistakes
오늘, 어제, and 내일 can lead to persistent errors for learners. Identifying these pitfalls and understanding the underlying reasons is paramount for developing accurate and natural Korean. Mistakes often arise from overgeneralizing rules or applying English linguistic structures directly.- 1Attaching the particle
에(-e) to오늘,어제, or내일: This is by far the most prevalent and persistent error among beginner learners. You might incorrectly assume that since에marks time for other nouns (e.g.,월요일에- on Monday,세 시에- at 3 o'clock), it applies universally.
- Incorrect:
내일에 공원에 갈 거예요.(Nae-il-e gong-won-e gal geo-ye-yo.) - Correct:
내일 공원에 갈 거예요.(Nae-il gong-won-e gal geo-ye-yo.) - I will go to the park tomorrow. - Why it's wrong:
오늘,어제, and내일are uniquely classified as absolute time adverbial nouns. They inherently carry the meaning "on this day" or "at this time." Adding에renders the expression redundant and grammatically incorrect, akin to saying "on tomorrow" in English. This principle extends to direct combinations like오늘 아침(this morning) or어제 밤(last night); the entire phrase functions as a single absolute temporal unit and thus generally rejects에. - Incorrect:
오늘 아침에 일찍 일어났어요.(O-neul a-chim-e il-jjik i-reo-nass-eo-yo.) - Correct:
오늘 아침 일찍 일어났어요.(O-neul a-chim il-jjik i-reo-nass-eo-yo.) - I woke up early this morning.
- 1Verb Tense Mismatch: Failing to align the verb's tense with the chosen time word is another significant error that causes confusion and sounds unnatural.
- Incorrect:
어제 학교에 가요.(Eo-je hak-gyo-e ga-yo.) - I go to school yesterday. (Present tense with past time word) - Correct:
어제 학교에 갔어요.(Eo-je hak-gyo-e gass-eo-yo.) - I went to school yesterday. - Incorrect:
내일 영화를 봤어요.(Nae-il yeong-hwa-reul bwass-eo-yo.) - I watched a movie tomorrow. (Past tense with future time word) - Correct:
내일 영화를 볼 거예요.(Nae-il yeong-hwa-reul bol geo-ye-yo.) - I will watch a movie tomorrow. - Why it's wrong: Korean grammar strictly requires consistency between the temporal indicator and the verb's tense. This logical agreement is essential for clearly communicating when an action occurred or will occur. Overcoming this requires conscious practice to make correct verb conjugation reflexive.
- 1Using overly formal Hanja-derived terms (
금일,명일,작일) in casual contexts: While terms like금일(geum-il, 今日 - today),명일(myeong-il, 明日 - tomorrow), and작일(jag-il, 昨日 - yesterday) exist, they are derived from Chinese characters (Hanja) and belong to a highly formal register.
- Incorrect (casual conversation):
금일 점심 뭐 먹을까요?(Geum-il jeom-sim mwo meog-eul-kka-yo?) - (Sounds like: "What shall we consume for luncheon this day?") - Correct (casual conversation):
오늘 점심 뭐 먹을까요?(O-neul jeom-sim mwo meog-eul-kka-yo?) - What shall we eat for lunch today? - Why it's wrong: Employing
금일,명일, or작일in everyday speech, casual texts, or most emails sounds highly unnatural and overly stiff. These terms are reserved for official documents, news reports, formal business communications, or academic writing. Always default to the native Korean words오늘,어제,내일for nearly all communicative situations to sound natural.
- 1Confusing
오늘with지금(ji-geum, now): Both relate to the present, but their temporal scopes differ significantly.지금refers to the instantaneous moment of speaking, while오늘encompasses the entire 24-hour day. Misusing them can lead to miscommunication regarding urgency or broadness of scope.
- Incorrect (when immediate action is needed):
오늘 끝낼게요.(O-neul kkeun-nael geo-ye-yo.) - I'll finish it today. (Implies finishing sometime today, not necessarily immediately.) - Correct (for immediate action):
지금 끝낼게요.(Ji-geum kkeun-nael geo-ye-yo.) - I'll finish it now. - Why it's wrong: The subtle difference in temporal scope is critical.
지금conveys immediacy, often implying urgency, whereas오늘merely situates the action within the current day without specifying the exact moment. Always use지금when you need to express "right now."
Real Conversations
Observing 오늘, 어제, and 내일 in authentic Korean dialogues helps solidify your understanding of their natural usage across various social contexts and politeness levels. Notice how the time words themselves remain constant, while only the verb endings adjust.
Scenario 1
해체)- A: 내일 뭐 해? (Nae-il mwo hae?) - What are you doing tomorrow?
- B: 내일 일 없어. 너는? (Nae-il il eops-eo. Neo-neun?) - I don't have anything to do tomorrow. How about you?
- A: 그럼 내일 저녁 같이 먹을까? (Geu-reom nae-il jeo-nyeok gat-i meog-eul-kka?) - Then, shall we eat dinner together tomorrow evening?
- B: 응, 좋아! (Eung, joh-a!) - Yeah, sounds good!
Scenario 2
해요체)- A: 어제 잘 주무셨어요? (Eo-je jal ju-mu-syeoss-eo-yo?) - Did you sleep well yesterday? (Honorific)
- B: 아니요, 어제 밤 잠을 잘 못 잤어요. (A-ni-yo, eo-je bam jam-eul jal mot jass-eo-yo.) - No, I couldn't sleep well last night.
- A: 아이고, 피곤하시겠어요. 오늘 좀 쉬세요. (A-i-go, pi-gon-ha-si-gess-eo-yo. O-neul jjom swi-se-yo.) - Oh dear, you must be tired. Please rest today. (Honorific)
Scenario 3
합니다체)- A: 김 과장님, 오늘 업무는 어떠셨습니까? (Kim Gwa-jang-nim, o-neul eom-mu-neun eo-tteo-syeoss-seup-ni-kka?) - Section Chief Kim, how was your work today?
- B: 네, 오늘 중요한 회의를 잘 마쳤습니다. (Ne, o-neul jung-yo-han hoe-ui-reul jal ma-chyeoss-seup-ni-da.) - Yes, I successfully concluded an important meeting today.
- A: 수고하셨습니다. 내일 오전에는 보고서 작성을 부탁드립니다. (Su-go-ha-syeoss-seup-ni-da. Nae-il o-jeon-e-neun bo-go-seo jak-seong-eul bu-tak-deu-rim-ni-da.) - You've worked hard. I request you prepare the report tomorrow morning.
- B: 알겠습니다. 내일 아침까지 준비하겠습니다. (Al-gess-seup-ni-da. Nae-il a-chim-kka-ji jun-bi-ha-gess-seup-ni-da.) - Understood. I will prepare it by tomorrow morning.
Scenario 4
은/는 (Polite, 해요체)- A: 어제는 날씨가 흐렸는데, 오늘은 맑아요! (Eo-je-neun nal-ssi-ga heu-ryeoss-neun-de, o-neul-eun malg-a-yo!) - Yesterday the weather was cloudy, but today it's clear!
- B: 네, 어제 비가 와서 그런 것 같아요. (Ne, eo-je bi-ga wa-seo geu-reon geot gat-a-yo.) - Yes, I think it's because it rained yesterday.
Scenario 5
도 (Casual, 해체)- A: 오늘도 바빠? (O-neul-do ba-ppa?) - Are you busy today too?
- B: 응, 오늘도 할 일이 많아. (Eung, o-neul-do hal il-i manh-a.) - Yeah, I have a lot to do today too.
These examples illustrate that the function of 오늘, 어제, and 내일 remains consistent across conversational tones. The key is to match the verb tense and to avoid the particle 에 directly after these basic time words or their direct compounds.
Quick FAQ
오늘, 어제, and 내일 to deepen your understanding.- Q: Can I attach other particles besides
은/는and도to오늘,어제, or내일? - A: Yes. While
은/는(topic marker) and도(also/too) are the most common, you can also see부터(bu-teo, from) and까지(kka-ji, until/by) with these time words. These particles function differently from에and combine correctly. For instance,오늘부터(o-neul-bu-teo, from today) or내일까지(nae-il-kka-ji, by tomorrow) are grammatically correct. - Example:
오늘부터 다이어트 할 거예요.(O-neul-bu-teo da-i-eo-teu hal geo-ye-yo.) - I will diet from today. - Example:
내일까지 이 보고서를 끝내세요.(Nae-il-kka-ji i bo-go-seo-reul kkeun-nae-se-yo.) - Please finish this report by tomorrow.
- Q: Where exactly in the sentence should
오늘,어제, or내일be placed? - A: These words are quite flexible. The most natural positions are at the very beginning of the sentence or immediately after the subject. Both
오늘 저는 회사에 가요.(O-neul jeo-neun hoe-sa-e ga-yo.) and저는 오늘 회사에 가요.(Jeo-neun o-neul hoe-sa-e ga-yo.) are perfectly acceptable and mean "I go to work today." Placing them earlier tends to give them slightly more emphasis.
- Q: Are there more formal versions of these words, and when should I use them?
- A: Yes, Hanja-derived terms like
금일(geum-il, 今日 - today),명일(myeong-il, 明日 - tomorrow), and작일(jag-il, 昨日 - yesterday) exist. However, their use is strictly limited to very formal contexts such as official documents, news broadcasts, business reports, or academic writing. Using them in casual conversation or even most professional emails would sound unnatural and overly stiff to a native speaker. Always default to오늘,어제,내일for 99% of your communication to sound natural.
- Q: What if I want to say "this morning," "last night," or "tomorrow evening"? Do I need a particle then?
- A: When you combine
오늘,어제, or내일directly with specific parts of the day like아침(a-chim, morning),점심(jeom-sim, lunchtime),저녁(jeo-nyeok, evening), or밤(bam, night), the resulting phrase (e.g.,오늘 아침,어제 밤,내일 저녁) functions as a single absolute time adverbial. Therefore, the "no-에" rule typically applies to the entire compound. Avoid adding에to these combinations for A1 level clarity. - Incorrect:
내일 아침에 만나요.(Nae-il a-chim-e man-na-yo.) - Correct:
내일 아침 만나요.(Nae-il a-chim man-na-yo.) - Let's meet tomorrow morning. - Nuance for advanced learners: While the strict rule for
오늘/어제/내일is no에, you may occasionally encounter오늘 아침에,내일 저녁에in colloquial speech. However, for A1 learners, consistently omitting에is the most straightforward and safest approach to avoid errors.
- Q: Can
오늘be used to mean "nowadays" or "these days"? - A: While
오늘literally means "today," it is generally not used to mean "nowadays" or "these days" in a broader sense. For that, you should use요즘(yo-jeum).요즘refers to a general period encompassing the present, whereas오늘specifically refers to the current single day. - Example:
요즘 한국 드라마가 인기가 많아요.(Yo-jeum han-guk deu-ra-ma-ga in-gi-ga manh-a-yo.) - Korean dramas are very popular these days.
- Q: Why does
내일have a common Hanja form (來日) but오늘and어제do not? - A: This reflects the historical development of the Korean language.
오늘and어제are deeply rooted in native Korean vocabulary, having evolved directly from older Korean terms.내일, on the other hand, is a Sino-Korean word, meaning it was borrowed from Chinese characters (來日literally means "coming day"). Korean has a rich mixture of native and Sino-Korean words, and내일is one of the common Sino-Korean time expressions fully integrated into everyday language, unlike its more formal counterparts like금일.
- Q: How do
오늘,어제,내일relate to모레(mo-re, the day after tomorrow) and그저께(geu-jeo-kke, the day before yesterday)? - A:
모레and그저께belong to the same grammatical category as오늘,어제, and내일. They are also absolute time adverbial nouns and, therefore, do not take the particle에. - Example:
모레 친구 결혼식에 갈 거예요.(Mo-re chin-gu gyeol-hon-sik-e gal geo-ye-yo.) - I will go to my friend's wedding the day after tomorrow. - Example:
그저께 시험이 끝났어요.(Geu-jeo-kke si-heom-i kkeun-nass-eo-yo.) - The exam finished the day before yesterday.
에" rule a consistent pattern for these specific daily temporal markers. Knowing when not to use a particle is often as important as knowing when to use one.Time Word & Verb Tense Alignment
| Time Word | Meaning | Typical Tense | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
어제
|
Yesterday
|
Past (-았/었/였어요)
|
어제 먹었어요
|
|
오늘
|
Today
|
Present (-아요/어요)
|
오늘 먹어요
|
|
내일
|
Tomorrow
|
Future (-ㄹ 거예요)
|
내일 먹을 거예요
|
Meanings
These are the three fundamental temporal deictic adverbs used to anchor actions in the past, present, or future.
Relative Time Anchor
Defining the temporal frame of an action relative to the current day.
“오늘 날씨가 좋아요.”
“어제 친구를 만났어요.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Time + Subject + Verb
|
오늘 공부해요
|
|
Negative
|
Time + Subject + 안 + Verb
|
어제 안 갔어요
|
|
Question
|
Time + Subject + Verb?
|
내일 와요?
|
|
Past
|
어제 + Verb (Past)
|
어제 잤어요
|
|
Present
|
오늘 + Verb (Present)
|
오늘 자요
|
|
Future
|
내일 + Verb (Future)
|
내일 잘 거예요
|
Formality Spectrum
내일 갑니다. (Daily life)
내일 가요. (Daily life)
내일 가. (Daily life)
내일 고! (Daily life)
Time Flow
Past
- 어제 Yesterday
Future
- 내일 Tomorrow
Examples by Level
오늘 학교에 가요.
I go to school today.
어제 친구를 만났어요.
I met a friend yesterday.
내일 한국어를 공부해요.
I will study Korean tomorrow.
오늘 날씨가 좋아요.
The weather is nice today.
어제는 비가 많이 왔어요.
It rained a lot yesterday.
내일은 바빠요.
I am busy tomorrow.
오늘 점심은 뭐예요?
What is for lunch today?
어제 숙제를 다 했어요.
I finished all my homework yesterday.
내일 회의가 있어서 일찍 가야 해요.
I have a meeting tomorrow, so I must leave early.
어제 본 영화가 정말 재미있었어요.
The movie I saw yesterday was really fun.
오늘부터 다이어트를 시작할 거예요.
I will start a diet from today.
내일은 비가 올 것 같아요.
It looks like it will rain tomorrow.
어제 제출했어야 할 서류를 오늘 가져왔습니다.
I brought the documents today that should have been submitted yesterday.
내일은 프로젝트 마감일이라 야근이 예상됩니다.
Tomorrow is the project deadline, so overtime is expected.
오늘따라 커피가 더 맛있네요.
The coffee tastes better today of all days.
어제는 정말 정신없는 하루였어요.
Yesterday was a really hectic day.
내일 있을 발표 준비로 오늘 하루 종일 바빴습니다.
I was busy all day today preparing for the presentation tomorrow.
어제 그가 했던 말은 오늘 상황과는 맞지 않습니다.
What he said yesterday does not fit the current situation today.
내일은 또 어떤 일이 벌어질지 기대되네요.
I'm looking forward to what will happen tomorrow.
오늘의 결정이 내일의 미래를 바꿀 것입니다.
Today's decision will change tomorrow's future.
어제는 과거의 기억으로, 오늘은 현재의 노력으로, 내일은 미래의 희망으로 삽니다.
I live with yesterday's memories, today's efforts, and tomorrow's hopes.
내일 당장 떠나야 할지도 모르는 상황입니다.
It is a situation where I might have to leave as early as tomorrow.
오늘 같은 날에는 따뜻한 차 한 잔이 제격이죠.
On a day like today, a cup of warm tea is perfect.
어제보다 나은 오늘을 위해 매일 노력합니다.
I strive every day for a today that is better than yesterday.
Easily Confused
Learners confuse 'today' with 'this week'.
Both start with '내'.
Both refer to the past.
Common Mistakes
오늘에
오늘
어제 공부해요
어제 공부했어요
공부해요 어제
어제 공부해요
내일은 갈 거예요
내일 갈 거예요
어제 먹을 거예요
어제 먹었어요
오늘에 학교 가요
오늘 학교 가요
내일은 안 갈 거예요
내일 안 갈 거예요
어제부터 공부해요
어제부터 공부했어요
내일은 비가 올 거다
내일은 비가 올 거예요
오늘 날씨가 춥다
오늘 날씨가 추워요
어제 했던 일을 오늘 할 것이다
어제 했던 일을 오늘 한다
내일은 갈 수 있다
내일은 갈 수 있을 것이다
오늘 같은 날은
오늘 같은 날에는
어제는 그랬지만
어제는 그랬으나
Sentence Patterns
___에 뭐 했어요?
___에 갈 거예요.
___는 바빠요.
___부터 ___까지 공부해요.
Real World Usage
내일 봐!
어제 준비했습니다.
오늘의 날씨
오늘 배달 가능해요?
내일 비행기표 있어요?
오늘 행복해!
Start with Time
No Particles
Tense Match
Politeness
Smart Tips
Add the topic particle '는' to the time word.
Start with the time word to set the scene.
Look at your time word first.
Combine time words with specific dates.
Pronunciation
오늘
Pronounced as '오늘' due to liaison.
어제
Standard pronunciation.
내일
Pronounced as '내일' but the 'ㄹ' sound is liquid.
Statement
오늘 가요. ↘
Falling intonation for facts.
Question
오늘 가요? ↗
Rising intonation for questions.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Oh-je' (Yesterday) as 'Oh, gee, that's over', 'O-neul' (Today) as 'Oh, now', and 'Nae-il' (Tomorrow) as 'Nay, not yet'.
Visual Association
Imagine a calendar. Yesterday is a faded grey page behind you. Today is a bright yellow page in front of you. Tomorrow is a fresh white page waiting to be written.
Rhyme
Yesterday is 어제, today is 오늘, tomorrow is 내일, let's learn them well!
Story
Yesterday (어제) I was tired. Today (오늘) I am happy. Tomorrow (내일) I will be successful.
Word Web
Challenge
Write three sentences about your day using these words and share them with a language partner.
Cultural Notes
Punctuality is highly valued. Using these words correctly in scheduling is key to social harmony.
In formal business, '내일' is often replaced with '익일' (next day) in written documents.
Young people often use '내일' in texting to mean 'see you later'.
These words are native Korean terms that have existed since Old Korean.
Conversation Starters
오늘 뭐 해요?
어제 뭐 했어요?
내일 계획이 있어요?
오늘 날씨가 어때요?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
___ 저는 학교에 갔어요.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
어제 갈 거예요.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
I am busy today.
Answer starts with: 오늘 ...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
어제 ___.
A: 내일 뭐 해요? B: ___.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises___ 저는 학교에 갔어요.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
어제 갈 거예요.
가요 / 내일 / 학교 / 에
I am busy today.
어제 / 오늘 / 내일
어제 ___.
A: 내일 뭐 해요? B: ___.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercises___ 뭐 해요? (What are you doing today?)
오늘에 너무 바빠요.
Translate: I will go to work tomorrow.
Are we meeting tomorrow?
Select the correct sentence.
Match the words.
___ 피곤해요. (As for today, I am tired.)
어제 한국어를 공부할 거예요.
Translate: I met a friend yesterday.
I am resting at home today.
Identify the incorrect pair.
___ 영화 볼까요? (Shall we watch a movie tonight?)
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
No, '오늘' is an adverbial noun and does not take the particle '에'.
You must match the tense to the time word. '어제' = past, '오늘' = present, '내일' = future.
It is neutral and used in all registers.
That is '모레'.
It is grammatically possible but very unnatural.
Yes, they are standard in all professional settings.
'오늘' is today; '오늘날' means 'these days' or 'modern times'.
No, they remain the same regardless of who you are talking to.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Hoy, Ayer, Mañana
Korean requires sentence-initial placement for these words.
Aujourd'hui, Hier, Demain
Korean uses no particles at all.
Heute, Gestern, Morgen
German requires verb-second position.
Kyou, Kinou, Ashita
Japanese uses particles like 'wa' more frequently.
Al-yawm, Ams, Ghadan
Korean is agglutinative.
Jintian, Zuotian, Mingtian
Chinese has no verb conjugation.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Grammar Rules
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